Stephen Johnson-Tseu

“...an avid storyteller... A formidable cellist..." – Benjamin Zander

Stephen has performed extensively and internationally across 3 continents as a cellist. A native of Kota Kinabalu, he has performed with the American Festival Orchestra, the YPHIL International Philharmonic, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia, among many others. Having studied and attended masterclasses with cellists Julie Dessureault, Asier Polo, Jacob Shaw, Leonid Shukaev, Thomas Duran, Thomas Loewenheim, and the late Alexander Buzlov, Stephen was greatly influenced to be a great enthusiast of various genres and soundscapes.

As a performer, he favours creative communication between artistic hive minds to generate exhilarating experiences for attending audiences. His most recent season featured concerts with the Denver Philharmonic and the Chor der Bayerische Philharmonie at the Herkulessaal in Munich, Germany; two Disney in Concerts in Malaysia; a concert tour with Lay Zhang in Singapore and Malaysia; cello-bass recital with Giacomo Banella.

Notable projects in 2023 will include his engagement at the Mas Palou Artist Residency 2023, Spain, curating a interdisciplinary/socio-artistic project “no!” with German pianist Daniel Bucurescu, piano quintet concert tour in Indonesia, showcases with the big band Tarakucha! featuring singers Sean Ghazi & Ida Mariana, and Singaporean singer Nathania Ong’s homecoming concert at the Esplanade.

As an educator, Stephen has extensive cello pedagogical experience - he taught at the British International School, Epsom College, University of Malaya, and later received his diploma in education in 2022. Stephen also occasionally tutors for the ‘Genius Seni Muzik’, the youth orchestra programme at the Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur. Stephen was also the head of Diploma programmes at the UCSI Institute of Music; presently he teaches at UCSI and Sunway Universities as an adjunct instructor.

Stephen performs on a 2014 Han Zhao-sheng cello.